Patients with this variant may be prone to atherosclerosis.[26] The RNF213 variant could lead to vascular fragility, which may render vessels more vulnerable to hemodynamic stress and secondary insults.[26] Besides vascular risk factors, various environmental factors (e.g., autoimmune response and infection/inflammation) are suggested to trigger vascular abnormalities in the presence of the RNF213 variant. This evidence concerns the gene RNF213 and infection.